During the recent founding of Saudi Arabia in 1932, there was no interest in the urban and architectural heritage that Jeddah possesses. As a result, historic Jeddah was exposed to many problems similar to many historical Middle Eastern cities. For example, the historic city wall and many heritage buildings were demolished. With the economic recovery during the 1970s, the original dwellers abandoned the city altogether. They were soon replaced by a class of ex-patriate workers who would inhabit the area, and the city’s distinct heritage fell into neglect. At the beginning of the 1980s, attempts to preserve that area began with the expert Robert Matthew, who studied the remaining historical buildings and proposed strategies for preservation that were based on three main directions: restoration, replacement, or new construction. The issuance of “Saudi’s 2030 vision” included programs to develop Saudi cities, including Jeddah. This program includes the removal of unplanned and slum areas around historic Jeddah without developing a clear master plan for what will replace them. In addition, it includes the complete expropriation of historic Jeddah, without announcing a specific plan for what the area will be used for. Therefore, this study seeks to review current preservation strategies, with the aim of reaching results related to the challenges facing the area; demonstrating the effectiveness of the preservation strategies used; and deducing what could contribute in the future to the development, preservation, and optimal exploitation of the area, without losing its value as a result of the modernization processes currently taking place.

Saudi Arabian cities have rapidly expanded their urban areas, especially their city centers, over the last four decades. This growth has led to increased vehicular usage. As a result, the daily walking experience for residents has been adversely affected. Walkability has several positive effects on people’s health and the urban environment. It serves as a means of transportation and helps create a sense of place. This enhances the legibility of urban structures and deepens emotional bonds with the city. This study uses the medium-sized Saudi Arabian city of Onaizah as a case study. It explores the feasibility of creating urban walking corridors to encourage more walking. According to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, sustainable urban development and improved quality of life are key priorities. The study addresses walkability as a way to enhance the urban landscape of the city center. Geographic Information Systems (GISs) were used to analyze data and generate urban corridors in the city center. The results indicate that walking in Onaizah can be improved through three urban corridors. These corridors measure 1335 m, 1624 m, and 1937 m, respectively. They represent urban, commercial, and heritage corridors. This provides planners and decision makers an opportunity to prioritize pedestrian connectivity and improve the physical environment. Such efforts contribute to sustainable urban development. Various criteria-analysis methods were employed to assess the factors that led to the conclusion of these urban corridors. This includes evaluations of land use, transportation, and environmental considerations. The study aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by promoting walking and enhancing overall walkability. It also aims to create a sustainable and livable urban environment for the community in Onaizah.

Saudi Arabian cities have experienced a rapid expansion of their urban areas - particularly their city centers - over the last four decades. This has resulted to an increase in vehicular usage, which has adversely affected the daily walking experience of the residents. Walkability has several positive effects on people's health as well as the environment in cities. In addition to being a means of transportation, it also helps people create a sense of place, enhancing their image ability to be easily understood as a legible urban structure, and deepen their emotional bond with the city. Using the medium-sized Saudi Arabian city of Onaizah as a case study, this study looks into the feasibility of creating urban walking corridors to encourage users to walk more. According to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which emphasizes the value of sustainable urban development and raising quality of life for residents, the study addresses walkability as a generator to maintain and improve the urban scene of the city center. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to analyze the data and generate the urban corridors in the city center. The results showed the possibility of improving walking in Onaizah through three urban corridors to the city center, measuring 1,401 meters, 1,283 meters, and 1,507 meters, respectively. These corridors represent urban, commercial and heritage corridors, giving an opportunity for planners and decision makers to challenge prioritize pedestrian connectivity and enhance the physical environment, leading to sustainable urban development. This research paper used various criteria analysis methods to provide a comprehensive assessment of various factors to conclude these urban corridors; for example, assessments of land use, transportation and environmental considerations. The study aligns with Saudi Arabia's vision 2030 by promoting walking and enhancing the city's overall walkability while offering Onaizah society by creating and suggesting urban corridors to the city center a sustainable and livable urban environment.

This study employs Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to evaluate the walkability of Onaizah City, which serves as a representative model for a Saudi city situated in the Qassim region, north of the capital city, Riyadh. The goal is to evaluate how easily pedestrians can navigate the street network and identify areas that excel or need improvement in terms of walkability. The results offer insights for planning and development supporting sustainable initiatives. Approach; The study involves integrating GIS data, such as street layouts, land use patterns, and demographic information. By analyzing factors like integration values and choice values within the street network the study gauges’ walkability aspects. Furthermore, correlation analysis explores how spatial arrangements, influence walkability. By studying the case of a medium-sized Saudi city, which can then be applied to several Saudi cities. Cost distance analysis and cost-back correlation calculations are employed to determine pedestrian routes. Findings and Discussion; Through GIS techniques the study effectively assesses the walkability of Onaizah City by identifying three walking paths with lengths of (1401m, 1283m, and 1507m). The study reveals pedestrians' actual city distance. Weighted criteria assign 40% to heritage sites, 30% to green spaces, and 15% each to mosques/commercial sites. Preserving access to heritage sites and incorporating areas enhance walkability. Conclusion: Study enhances walkability understanding, offering data-driven planning suggestions. Urban planners prioritize pedestrian connectivity, considering GIS effectiveness and physical environment importance. Findings support walkability research and sustainable urban development.

The term «Urban Observatory» refers to a center specialized in the collection and analysis of «Urban Indicators» that contribute to the design, monitoring and evaluation of urban development policies at all levels (Urban Areas, Districts, and Cities). It also contributes to the coordination between different stakeholders and related partners in urban development sector for the unification of visions in order to reach a sound decision making process. It is also a center specialized in the identification of development needs in urban areas within a group of priorities, besides to the provision and management of data necessary for urban development in any city through the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) through which the system of urban observatories was established for the facilitation of data collection and organization via a communication network between all observatories to help in the implementation of all tasks and particularly in building the capacities of local urban observatories.The research argues to shed light on the produced Urban Indicators for Holy Makkah on both levels (City/Districts) ; as a case study which implemented by using the graphic information system (Arc GIS) to provide all demographic and services related data and achieving an ordered classification of neighborhoods and residential districts according to their development needs besides to mapping the current situation in terms of (Land use – natural features, mountains, plains, valleys, hills, and road networks), finally the research concludes its conclusions through Makkah Districts case study in terms of places and users for the Holy Capital.

Many historical areas are exposed to many problems and ongoing changes that may negatively affect those areas. One of these historical areas is Historic Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, which was placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014. This site is located within the scope of the second largest city in the Kingdom, which is witnessing a continuous urban movement in which the image of the city is changing in response to (Kingdom’s Vision 2030) to modernize the image of its major cities. The study aims to review the urban preservation strategies for historic Jeddah and the vision set for it through the ongoing modernization process of the city, especially with the projects that have been undertaken in it since 2021. The study follows both theoretical and descriptive approaches with the aim of reviewing current conservation strategies. This is with the aim of reaching results related to the challenges facing the area, demonstrating the effectiveness of the conservation strategies used, and deducing what could contribute in the future to the process of developing, preserving, and optimally exploiting it, without losing its value as a result of the modernization processes taking place now, but rather as a compatible part of it.